🇦🇺 Don't Miss These! Top Questions About Applying to Australia 🦘

🇦🇺 Don't miss these! Top questions about applying to Australia 🦘

I've put together some of the most common questions. Hopefully they'll help you at least a little!

❶ What intakes are there

: Most programs have February/March and July/August intakes

Computer science, information technology, business analytics, interaction design, data science, engineering, supply chain management, hospitality management, finance, general business, marketing, TESOL

🔖 A few schools have more intakes per year, e.g. additional ones in May and September

: Programs that usually only admit in the first or second half of the year

Speech pathology/early childhood education/occupational therapy/physiotherapy/social work/nursing/optometry

🔖 You'll still find a few schools with two intakes a year for these

❷ How far ahead should you apply

: The earliest you can apply

You can apply 1 year before your intake. Example: for a 2027 FEB start, you can apply from 2026 FEB

: The latest you can apply

This one's tricky. Strictly speaking, some schools accept applications until 2~3 months before the start date, but! You have to be sure you can get your visa and housing sorted in time!

I'd still recommend half a year before your intake as the latest!

Example: for a 2027 JUL start, apply by 2027 JAN-FEB

🔖 Also, for programs with capped places, I recommend applying 1 year ahead, assuming your English already meets the requirement

💛 Apply through Harry and save NTD 10,000 - 40,000 in unnecessary hidden costs

💛 Get student insurance through Harry and save about NTD 5,000 - 7,000

❸ How long until you hear back

: Rolling review

Applications go into review as soon as they're received. Sometimes schools review applications for the nearest intake first and then move on to later intakes; sometimes they review all intakes at the same time.

🔖 Some programs or schools review in rounds

: Average review time

6 to 8 weeks = 1.5 to 2 months

: Can it be faster or slower

Very much so! On the fast end I've seen results within a few days or 1 week; on the slow end, 12 weeks = more than 3 months

❹ How long a master's should you choose

: You 'need' a post-study work visa

Choose a 2-year program with at least 16 months of study

: You 'don't need' a post-study work visa

Then you can choose a 1 or 1.5-year program. Australia doesn't only have 2-year master's! For these two lengths, schools usually require a bachelor's in the same or a related field, or relevant coursework (with English syllabi as proof)

🔖 After graduating you'll be eligible to apply for a 2-year work visa

🔖 If the campus is in a regional area, you get 1 more year on the work visa = 2+1=3

❺ What to know when applying

: If you want to apply to more than two programs at the same school

If there's a school you really want to attend but you're worried about not getting into your program, you can list other choices in the same application. Most schools let one application include 2 to 3 ranked preferences. If you get into your first choice, they won't review the rest; if not, they'll move on to the next program.

🔖 Admission standards for programs in the same field usually don't differ much

🔖 Ranking preferences won't lower your chances of admission

🔖 One application with ranked preferences only requires paying the school's application fee once

: Can I hold Offers for two programs at once?

Normally a school only issues one Offer, so a student can't hold several Offers at the same time. There are some exceptions, but not many, so I won't list them.

❻ Estimated total cost for 2026

Calculated at AUD to TWD 1:22, including tuition, housing, transportation and cooking your own meals

: Group of Eight schools

About NT$1.7 - 2 million/year in total

About NT$3.4 - 4 million/2 years in total

: Non-Group of Eight

About NT$1.3 - 1.7 million/year in total

About NT$2.6 - 3.4 million/2 years in total

: Entertainment & travel/year

NT$300,000 to 400,000/year. I think that's already quite good. Classes keep you busy, and if you share travel costs with friends it's plenty!

🔖 All costs above are averages and will vary with your spending habits

🔖 Housing in Sydney costs more than in other cities. You can look for a place about a 30~40 minute commute from the Sydney CBD

❼ What to know about scholarships

: How to apply

Automatic: if you meet the criteria for any scholarship, the school reviews you automatically and lists the award on your offer or in an email

Apply yourself: check the scholarships section for awards you have to apply for to be considered

: Typical amounts

It may be for the first year or for your whole program

Percentage: 10 to 30%

Fixed amount: AUD 5,000 to 10,000

🔖 A few have special conditions, e.g. you must reach a certain grade each semester to keep the scholarship

❽ Should you choose a Group of Eight school

: Recent graduates 'with a comfortable budget'

If your budget allows, since you're going abroad to study anyway, you'd still pick a Group of Eight school. Well-known schools still get you more interview opportunities.

: Recent graduates 'on a limited budget'

If budget is a concern, you're not hung up on big names, and you want the experience of studying abroad, a non-Group of Eight school is a better fit, with better chances of getting a scholarship.

: Experienced applicants 'with years of relevant work experience'

If you want to see whether you can build a career in Australia, you don't have to choose the Group of Eight. Australia doesn't care much about university rankings; your relevant work experience counts for more than your degree.

: Experienced applicants 'without relevant work experience'

If you don't necessarily plan to stay in Australia and want the master's degree to boost you back in Taiwan, I'd recommend the Group of Eight. Quite a few people also use this to explore a field different from their bachelor's and widen their job options back in Taiwan.

【OfferLand partner study-abroad consultant】

🙋🏻‍♂️Harry, independent consultant for the UK and Australia

👉🏻 Click to book a consultation 👈🏻

Want to study in the UK but save on agency fees? Want to study in Australia but save on application fees?

Want to apply on your own but still have someone to help?

✔ A consultant who truly looks after students: efficient + quick to reply!

✔ The key point: 【no agency fee】. Only certain other services carry a modest fee, and you'll be told about any charges in advance!

✔ Helps you plan your study-abroad timeline, watch the application details, do admission-chance analysis and apply to universities strategically, with tailored document coaching, plus follow-up help with (off-campus) housing, visas and pre-departure services